Without Reservations

I’m happy.”

    After that his day got progressively better. He was about to call Keaton again to check up on him when Tina came back in his office.
    “So…is Pita going to be back tomorrow?”
    “Probably.”
    “Cool, I’ve gotten used to the little furball. When do we get to meet Keaton?”
    Chay’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “You want to meet Keaton?”
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    Tommy popped his head around the corner. “‘Course we do. Gotta see if he’s good enough for you, doc.”
    Tina chuckled. “Yeah, that too. But I figured I’m in love with the man’s dog, I should at least get to meet him, right?”
    Chay was astounded. He shook his head and burst out laughing. He looked at Tommy.
    Tommy grinned. “I was just thinking though, we are going to need a new receptionist. My sis needs a job.”
    “Yeah, okay. Give her a call and see if she’s interested.”
    “Thanks, doc.”
    “Welcome.”
    Tommy and Tina disappeared after that. Chay smiled. It would seem that not everyone was going to abandon him as Bit had predicted.
    Somehow it made him feel a little better. It wasn’t his mom, but well…maybe she’d come around too.
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    Without Reservations

Chapter Fifteen
    He had the urge to whistle. It was sickening really. A grown man shouldn’t go around this happy. Especially considering all the crap going on in his life recently, but somehow with Chay by his side, it seemed manageable. Scary, but not the end of the world.
    Keaton threw an apple into the air and caught it as he shrugged his backpack further up his arm. One of these days he was going to have to get an attaché case, but darn it, that just seemed…nerdy. Yeah he was a nerd, but he didn’t have to advertise. Of course, dressed as he was and carrying a backpack, he usually got mistaken for a student. He wasn’t sure what was worse, nerd or kid.
    Chay was parked by the admin building. As Keaton approached, Chay smiled and pulled his sunglasses down with his finger.
    Keaton opened the door, tossed his backpack in the backseat and slid in next to Chay.
    “What are you smiling at?” Chay leaned over and kissed him.
    “Mmm.” He kissed back, nipping his mate’s bottom lip as he did so.
    “Just thinking how good you’d look in a red sports car.”
    Chay pushed his glasses back in place and sat up. “Oh? You want a sports car?”
    “It’s a thought. Let’s go.” He shut the door and put his seat belt on.
    “Yes, sir.” Chay drove out of the parking lot.
    Keaton took a bite of apple then offered it to Chay.
    He shook his head. “No thanks. Tina, Tommy and I had a huge lunch. Tommy’s sister started work today and brought us all tamales.”
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    “Ahh…” Keaton smiled at the mention of Tina and looked around.
    Chay was still in scrubs, but Pita was nowhere in sight. He sniffed. Nope Pita wasn’t in the truck. Pita had gone back to work with Chay today.
    Chay claimed Tina threatened to beat him if he didn’t bring the pup.
    “You went home before you came to get me?”
    “No, I came right from the office, why?”
    “Where’s the dog?”
    Chay chuckled. “Tina is puppysitting. I’m going to go get him on the way home.”
    Keaton took another bite of apple. “Uh. Okay.” Maybe he’d get to finally meet Tina. Anybody who adored his dog as much as Tina had to be pretty cool.
    Keaton finished his apple as Chay parked the truck in the dealership parking lot.
    Chay smiled. “Come on, let’s go find you a new car.”
    Keaton smiled back and got out of the car. Taking the apple core with him, he tossed it in a trashcan by the building. Chay grabbed his hand and they wandered from car to car. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to stroll hand in hand with his mate, but about ten minutes into strolling, it occurred to Keaton that people were gawking at them.
    “Chay? People are staring.” Keaton gazed around the car lot watching people quickly turn away when he spotted them.
    “So?” Chay tugged his hand as he bent forward, looking in the window of a blue car. “What do you think of this one, Bit?”
    Keaton glanced back at their entwined hands.
    “What?” Chay peered up at him.
    “Doesn’t that bother you?”
    “No. Does it bother you?”
    Did it? He thought about it for a minute. He wasn’t used to the scrutiny. Jonathon wouldn’t so much as accidentally brush against him in public. He actually